The Catholic Church in the Gulf has reached a historic milestone with the elevation of the Church of Our Lady of Arabia, located in Ahmadi, Kuwait, to the rank of Minor Basilica. The decree, promulgated on June 28 by the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, officially recognizes the church’s spiritual and pastoral importance.
Speaking to Vatican News, Bishop Aldo Berardi, O.SS.T., Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia, expressed profound joy over this recognition. He recalled that the church was established in 1948 through the efforts of the Carmelites and built by the Kuwait Oil Company for workers in the petroleum industry. In 2023, the parish celebrated its 75th anniversary.
“This church has always been a place of spiritual meaning,” Bishop Berardi said. “Here, migrants and those who came to work in the country have been able to practice their faith under the protection of Our Lady.”
The church holds particular importance as the home of the statue of Our Lady of Arabia, originally dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Blessed by Pope Pius XII in Rome in 1949 and later crowned by Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera in 2011 on behalf of Pope Benedict XVI, the statue is a symbol of devotion for Catholics in the region.
In a predominantly Muslim country where religious imagery is restricted, the presence of a Marian statue carries profound meaning for the faithful. “It is a shrine of great devotion,” Bishop Berardi emphasized, “and now its historical and pastoral significance is officially recognized.”
The elevation to Minor Basilica status strengthens the Church of Our Lady of Arabia’s role as a spiritual beacon for Catholics in Kuwait and the wider Gulf, offering a deeper bond with the universal Church.
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